Lotto millionaire with £13 in financial institution purchased pool desk and wins bronze for England
A bloke who received a whopping £2.4million on the National Lottery and purchased a pool desk has bagged bronze medal within the sport for England on the European Championships
Neil Jones, a 59-year-old former tiler, had simply £13 to his identify when he and his companion Julie Kirkham received £2.4million in a National Lottery attract 2010. After successful the lottery, Neil’s first buy was a pool desk, as he used to play snooker as a teenager.
With extra free time after retiring, and a Covid lockdown in addition, he sharpened his abilities at residence. He turned a county participant earlier than his first England trial in 2021. After narrowly lacking out, he was requested to strive once more this 12 months.
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(Image: PA)
He succeeded and was awarded his England colors throughout a Home Nations match. Now, after “thousands of hours” of observe, Neil was requested to captain England’s B1 group, and confronted different residence nation sides, in addition to groups from France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Gibraltar.
Neil’s group superior via the knockout phases to the quarter-finals, the place they narrowly beat Wales B 13-12. In a tense semi-final, they confronted an skilled Wales B1 aspect and misplaced 13-11 however nonetheless walked away with bronze medals.
Neil mentioned: “It was the first time I had experienced the honour of pulling on an England shirt at a major championships and, to add to that, I had the privilege to be captaining my country. I was very nervous but the team pulled together and, after finding our form we beat some excellent teams before coming up just short in a tight match against Wales B1 in the semis.”
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“At the time of the semi-final loss we were all gutted but, upon reflection, if you’d have offered us a podium place when we left home we’d have jumped at it. It was the most amazing journey and I can’t believe that we won a medal. I am so proud. I just wish my dad was still here to see what we’ve done. This medal is for him.”
Scotland B went on to beat Wales B1 within the closing and have been topped European Champions.
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